Pathways
Interrogating Policy Discourses and Practice on Women’s Empowerment in Ghana
2007 - 2011
Lead Researchers: Takyiwaa Manuh , Nana Akua Anyidoho
This project involved looking at policy texts of organisations (civil society, donor agencies and government) dealing with women's issues to see what kind of empowerment is present in the texts. What ideas do they have? How are they conceptualised? What strategies do they use to bring about empowerment?
Resources For This Project
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Conceptualising Women's Empowerment In West Africa
This paper discusses how the concept of ‘empowerment’ and specifically women’s empowerment, has been constructed in different literatures and the insights that these may offer for Pathways’ research programme. In particular the paper explores how different understandings of women’s empowerment shape capacity for action, by women themselves as well as by diverse policy actors. …
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Dialogues Of Empowerment Meeting, African Studies Association Meeting
The theme of the Annual Dialogue on Empowerment of the West Africa Hub held in Chicago from 13-16 November 2008, was “Women’s Empowerment and Development Policy,”. More than 50 participants attended the session, whose presentations were entitled: “Consuming Nollywood: Young Women’s Perspectives on Popular Films in Nigeria”, ”Women’s Empowerment in Post‐Conflict Sierra Leone”, “Exploring Women’s Empowerment in Everyday Lives: Intergenerational Perspectives in Ghana” and “Changing Representations of Women in Ghanaian Popular Culture”. The presentations were followed by a discussion and concluding remarks. …
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Taking The Lead? A Study Of Discourses And Practices On Women's Empowerment By Ghana's Ministry Of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC)
This paper presented to 'Pathways: What are we Learning?' Conference held in Cairo from 20-24 January 2009 is derived from the authors’ larger project on policy discourses and practices on women's empowerment in Ghana by leading institutions and actors in the state, civil society and the donor community. The overall aim of the study is to understand and ultimately influence the conceptions of women's empowerment in Ghana, and the strategies and actions flowing from these. In this paper, the authors focus on the Ministry of Children and Women's Affairs (MOWAC), the designated central government agency for 'mainstreaming gender' into national development plans. Operationally, MOWAC sees itself as the coordinator and guide for other ministries and government agencies on gender issues and concerns. …
